Improvement in circular-knitting machines



S, L. GTIS. GIRUULAR KNITTING MAGHINE.

N0" 4 4,885. Patented Nov. 1, 1864.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL L. OTIS, or MANCHESTER-CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIRCULAR-KNITTING. MACHlNES.

Specification .iorniing part of Letters Patent bio-44,885, dated November 1, 1864.

State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefui Improvement in' Knitting-Machines and I do hereby declare that thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional plan or top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a. vertical central section of the same, the line a; m, Fig. 1, indicating the'plane of section. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached sectional views of the needle in different positions.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

' This invention'conslsts in theemploylnent or use in knitting-machines of a grooved needle, in combination with a sliding eyecloser or casting-oft needle, operated by a suitable cam, in such a manner that the first or old loop is allowed to slip back over the point of the casting-oft needle into the shank of the main needle, and when said needlehas received the yarn from the guide and is drawn back, the cam. holds the casting-0ft needle forward until its point meets the hook of the main needle, and the eye thus formed retains the yarnand permits the old stitch to slip off over the end of the needle, forming a new stitch or course.

The invention consists, also, in a shoe ap-.

plied in relation to the needles and needlebed in such a manner that when the needle has become worn, and the needles get loose they will be held down to their places, and.

form projections or nipples c, which catch into the cam-groove d in the under surface of the stationary top plate, .13. -This top plate is ii rnil y secured to the ring (J, which forms the bearing for the needle-bed, as shown in Fig.-

2 of the drawings. 13y inipartingto theneedlebed a rotary motion, the needles are successively pushed out and drawn in by the action of the canrgroove d. Each needle is provided with a groove, 6, which forms the guide for the sliding eye-closer or casting-oft needle f. The shape of these needles (casting-oft) is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and ifthe same are moved forward their points pass over the points of the hooks of the main needles, and an eye is formed, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which shuts in the yarn taken up by the hooks. The position of the casting-oft needles f is governed by the cams D E, acting on projections 9, which risefrom said castingoft' needles.

The cam D is fastened to the stationary top plate, 13, and it is adjustable toward and from the center of the needle-bed. It commences under the yarn-guide F, and extends over the dista -ce of one'eighth (more or less) of the circumference of the circle. It is so shaped that by its action the casting ott' needles are pushed out just after the main needles have taken up a new' stitch. The cam E extends throughout the entire circle, and that portion of the same which is situated in front of the cam Dis curved or eccentric, so as to permit the casting-oft needles to move toward the centre of the needle-bed. As the projections g of the casting'ofi' needles pass the cam D they are pushed back by the concentric portion of the cam E, and they areagain broughtin contact with the cam D.

At the moment one of the needles receives the yarn from the guide F the casting-cit needle is still held backin the'position shown in Fig. 3; but, presently, by the action of the cam D, said casting-off needle is pushed out, and it shuts in the yarn in the eye formed betwcenits point and the hook of the main needle, as shown in Fig. 4., and in this position the old stitch is permitted to slip over the end of needles down to their places after the needlebed has become worn and the needles get loose. By this shoe the needles are prevented from rising and interfering with the guide or other parts, whereby some portion of the mechanism would be injured or broken-,and, fur.- therniorc, the use of said shoe obviates the necessity of getting a new needle-bed as often as would otherwise be necessary. A set-screw,

h, or other suitable device inserted in the shoe serves to adjust the same to the needles.

In order to accommodate the shoe, I make the inside top surface of the needle-bed alittle lower than the upper edge of the needles. It

in use, the latch being opened by the strength of the yarn. My needles do not require a presser, as is the case with a. spring-needle,

nor'a stitch-wheel. The needles require less 7 motion than ordinary needles, which. renders my machine less liable to wear. It requires less space for the mechanism to form a stitch, so that more threads canbe applied to the same size machines, which insures greater rapidity. y

' The entire machine is simple-in its construction, easily operated, and not liable to get out of order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. The cams D E and cam-groove d, incombinetion with the main needles I) and casting-- ott needles f, constructed and'operating' inthc manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shownand described.

-2 The shoe Gr, applied in combination with the needles I), needle-bed A, and stationary top plate, B, substantially inthe-manner and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL L. OTIS.

Witnesses:- V

CHARLES D. P msons, EDMUND S. CONKLIN. 

